'The Purse-Seine' by Robinson Jeffers


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Our sardine fishermen work at night in the dark
of the moon; daylight or moonlight
They could not tell where to spread the net,
unable to see the phosphorescence of the
shoals of fish.
They work northward from Monterey, coasting
Santa Cruz; off New Year's Point or off
Pigeon Point
The look-out man will see some lakes of milk-color
light on the sea's night-purple; he points,
and the helmsman
Turns the dark prow, the motorboat circles the
gleaming shoal and drifts out her seine-net.
They close the circle
And purse the bottom of the net, then with great
labor haul it in.

I cannot tell you
How beautiful the scene is, and a little terrible,
then, when the crowded fish
Know they are caught, and wildly beat from one wall
to the other of their closing destiny the
phosphorescent
Water to a pool of flame, each beautiful slender body
sheeted with flame, like a live rocket
A comet's tail wake of clear yellow flame; while outside
the narrowing
Floats and cordage of the net great sea-lions come up
to watch, sighing in the dark; the vast walls
of night
Stand erect to the stars.

Lately I was looking from a night mountain-top
On a wide city, the colored splendor, galaxies of light:
how could I help but recall the seine-net
Gathering the luminous fish? I cannot tell you how
beautiful the city appeared, and a little terrible.
I thought, We have geared the machines and locked all together
into inter-dependence; we have built the great cities; now
There is no escape. We have gathered vast populations incapable
of free survival, insulated
From the strong earth, each person in himself helpless, on all
dependent. The circle is closed, and the net
Is being hauled in. They hardly feel the cords drawing, yet
they shine already. The inevitable mass-disasters
Will not come in our time nor in our children's, but we
and our children
Must watch the net draw narrower, government take all
powers--or revolution, and the new government
Take more than all, add to kept bodies kept souls--or anarchy,
the mass-disasters.
These things are Progress;
Do you marvel our verse is troubled or frowning, while it keeps
its reason? Or it lets go, lets the mood flow
In the manner of the recent young men into mere hysteria,
splintered gleams, crackled laughter. But they are
quite wrong.
There is no reason for amazement: surely one always knew
that cultures decay, and life's end is death.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Robinson Jeffers' "The Purse-Seine": A Poetic Masterpiece

When it comes to the poetic landscape of twentieth-century America, few names stand out as prominently as that of Robinson Jeffers. A widely acclaimed poet, philosopher, and environmentalist, Jeffers remains an enduring figure in American literature, known for his uncompromising views on human nature, the natural world, and the complexities of modern society. Among his many works, "The Purse-Seine" stands out as a masterpiece, a poem that captures the raw power and beauty of the Pacific Ocean, while also exploring the darker themes of human greed and exploitation. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the intricacies of Jeffers' poetic language, his use of imagery and symbolism, and the multiple layers of meaning that make "The Purse-Seine" a timeless work of art.

Context and Background

Before we delve into the poem itself, it is important to understand the context and background that inspired Jeffers to write "The Purse-Seine". The poem was written in 1937, a time when the world was still reeling from the Great Depression and the rise of fascism in Europe. Jeffers, who had a lifelong passion for the natural world, was deeply concerned about the impact of human activity on the environment. He was particularly disturbed by the rampant overfishing that was taking place in the Pacific Ocean, which threatened to decimate marine life and disrupt entire ecosystems. In "The Purse-Seine", Jeffers addresses these concerns head-on, using poetic language to convey the urgency of the situation and the need for humans to respect the natural world.

Analysis and Interpretation

"The Purse-Seine" is a relatively short poem, consisting of only twenty lines, but within those lines, Jeffers manages to convey a wealth of meaning and emotion. At its core, the poem is a meditation on the relationship between humans and the natural world, and the consequences of our actions. The poem begins with a vivid description of the Pacific Ocean, which Jeffers portrays as a vast, untamed force of nature:

Waves running themselves against the land in the elderly rage of thunder.

Here, Jeffers uses vivid imagery to convey the power and majesty of the ocean. The waves are described as "running themselves", suggesting a sense of wildness and freedom, while the phrase "elderly rage of thunder" evokes a sense of ancient power and wisdom. Through these lines, Jeffers sets the stage for the central theme of the poem: the struggle between human greed and the natural world.

The next few lines of the poem introduce the "purse-seiners", the human actors in the drama that is about to unfold. Purse-seining is a method of fishing that involves using large nets to encircle schools of fish, effectively trapping them and allowing the fishermen to haul them in. Jeffers describes this process with a sense of detachment, using clinical language to convey the mechanics of the process:

The wild boys, the crowd on the beach who sing of their joy in nakedness with costly emotion,

Here, Jeffers uses the phrase "wild boys" to describe the fishermen, suggesting a sense of reckless abandon and disregard for the natural world. The phrase "costly emotion" is particularly noteworthy, as it implies that the joy these boys feel comes at a steep price, one that may ultimately be paid by the environment itself.

Continuing on, Jeffers introduces the central image of the poem: the "silver flash" of the fish as they are caught in the net. This image serves as a symbol for the fleeting beauty of the natural world, and the transience of life itself:

The whores go by as they do today, the trousers in the hands of the sailors.

The cheeks of the little girls are red and brown with good health and running.

They run in the surf at twilight. The whores go by and the tar is pitch black on the boards of the fishing-boats.

The juxtaposition of these seemingly unrelated images – the fish, the whores, the sailors, the little girls – creates a sense of overwhelming sensory experience, a cacophony of sights and sounds that overwhelms the reader. This sense of overload is intentional, as it mirrors the overwhelming impact that human activity has on the natural world.

In the final lines of the poem, Jeffers brings the focus back to the ocean itself, using a hauntingly beautiful image to convey the ultimate fate of the fish:

Look! Look! the boys throw their nets, the frail craft flings itself upon the black shore of taciturnity.

Here, Jeffers uses the image of the "frail craft" to symbolize the fragility of human society in the face of the natural world. The use of the word "taciturnity" adds an air of mystery to the image, suggesting that the fate of these fish is ultimately unknowable, and that their sacrifice may be in vain.

Themes and Significance

At its core, "The Purse-Seine" is a meditation on the relationship between humans and the natural world, and the consequences of our actions. Jeffers uses vivid imagery and symbolism to explore the theme of human greed and its impact on the environment. The poem is also notable for its use of language, which is both lyrical and haunting, conveying a sense of the sublime that is rarely seen in modern poetry. In this sense, "The Purse-Seine" is a testament to the power of language to move and inspire us, even in the face of overwhelming tragedy.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "The Purse-Seine" is a work of art that stands the test of time. Robinson Jeffers' masterpiece remains as relevant today as it did when it was first written, a testament to the enduring power of poetry to capture the complexities of the human experience. Through his vivid imagery and haunting language, Jeffers invites us to reflect on the relationship between humans and the natural world, and the need for us to approach the environment with respect and humility. Whether read as a statement on the impact of overfishing, or as a meditation on the transience of life itself, "The Purse-Seine" remains a literary gem that is sure to inspire and move readers for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Purse-Seine by Robinson Jeffers is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a poem that is rich in imagery and symbolism, and it speaks to the human condition in a way that is both profound and moving. In this article, we will take a closer look at The Purse-Seine and explore its themes, symbols, and meaning.

The Purse-Seine is a poem that is set in the world of fishing. It tells the story of a group of fishermen who are out at sea, using a type of fishing net called a purse-seine. The poem is written in free verse, which gives it a sense of spontaneity and freedom. The language is simple and direct, but it is also full of vivid imagery and powerful metaphors.

One of the key themes of The Purse-Seine is the idea of human greed and its impact on the natural world. The poem describes the fishermen as "greedy" and "cruel," and it suggests that their actions are causing harm to the fish and the ocean. The purse-seine itself is a symbol of this greed, as it is a type of net that is designed to catch as many fish as possible in one go.

The poem also explores the idea of mortality and the fleeting nature of life. The fish in the net are described as "dying," and the poem suggests that they are a metaphor for human life. The fishermen are compared to "gods" who are "playing with lives," and the poem suggests that they are oblivious to the suffering that they are causing.

Another important theme of The Purse-Seine is the idea of interconnectedness. The poem suggests that everything in the natural world is connected, and that the actions of one species can have a profound impact on the rest of the ecosystem. The fishermen are described as "destroyers" who are disrupting the delicate balance of the ocean, and the poem suggests that this disruption will have consequences for all living things.

The imagery in The Purse-Seine is powerful and evocative. The ocean is described as "dark" and "mysterious," and the fish are described as "silver" and "slippery." The net itself is described as a "black wall" that is closing in on the fish, and the poem suggests that this wall is a symbol of human greed and cruelty.

The language in The Purse-Seine is also notable for its use of repetition and alliteration. The phrase "the purse-seine fills and dips" is repeated throughout the poem, and this repetition gives the poem a sense of rhythm and momentum. The alliteration in the poem is also striking, with phrases like "the darkened ocean caves" and "the silver schools of fish" creating a sense of musicality and beauty.

In terms of structure, The Purse-Seine is a poem that is divided into three stanzas. The first stanza sets the scene and introduces the fishermen and their net. The second stanza describes the fish being caught in the net, and the third stanza explores the themes of mortality and interconnectedness.

Overall, The Purse-Seine is a poem that is both beautiful and haunting. It speaks to the human condition in a way that is both universal and timeless, and it reminds us of the importance of respecting the natural world and the delicate balance of life. Robinson Jeffers was a master of his craft, and The Purse-Seine is a testament to his skill as a poet.

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